JOHOR BARU: For parents like Jerine Goh, carrying lanterns with their children during the Mid-Autumn Festival is a tradition worth keeping alive.
The 38-year-old executive said the annual celebration is an opportunity for her children to experience the traditions she grew up with while spending time with their extended family.
“Besides Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a big deal in my family.
“We will all head back to our village in Melaka for a reunion and give each other mooncakes and other traditional snacks,” she said in an interview.
Her relatives will celebrate the occasion this weekend with a home buffet before the children take to the village streets with their lanterns, while the adults enjoy mooncakes with hot tea.
“We will teach the children how to light paper lanterns and solve riddles – traditional festive activities – and share how we celebrated the festival when we were kids.
“My children love it because they get to spend time with their cousins and also learn about what makes the festival significant to us,” she said.
Private tutor Liew Ai Fung, 42, said carrying lanterns is also an annual tradition at home, with her three children joining neighbours for a lantern walk around the neighbourhood.
“My neighbours have children around the same age as mine, so we usually gather and accompany them as they parade through several streets with their lanterns,” she said.
Liew had planned to make lanterns out of used Milo tins for her children this year, allowing them to experience a part of her own childhood.
Meanwhile, Jessica Yew, a sales assistant at a decorative item shop, said traditional lanterns continue to be a popular option among customers.
“Although there are many modern designs and materials available, including plastic lanterns and those featuring popular cartoon characters, traditional paper lanterns are still highly sought-after.
“Many local and Singaporean customers get excited when they spot the traditional lanterns at our shop, with some buying them in large quantities for home decorations and for children to carry during family gatherings,” she said.
She said the traditional lanterns were once lit with candles, but the practice could pose a fire risk, especially when children carried them.
“Nowadays, there is a modern twist where small LED bulbs are used to illuminate the lanterns. They still look beautiful as decorations, but are safer for children to carry during their lantern parades,” she said.
